Record-file.



F. P. READ.

RECORD FILE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.5. 1917.

Patented 3 5111151918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK P. READ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECORD-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 115, 19 12 Application filed January 5, 1917. Serial No.140,746.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. FRANK P. READ, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Chicago, Illinois. have invented a new and usefulRecord-File, of which the following is a specificationj Myinventionrelates to apparatus for filing records such as phonograph disk records.

It has been customary to file such records on shelves and in envelopsand albums. These methods are awkward and not sus ceptible to orderlyand systematic arrangement. As the records are fragile they are subjectto breakage when filed by these old methods.

My main object is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction forfiling such records compactly and yet so that they can be readily foundand so that there will be little danger of breakage.

According to my invention the records are filed on edge in pockets arraned in a suitable box or drawer. These pocIrets are preferably providedwith relatively soft pads in the bottom to protect the edges of thedisks and to make the pockets durable. The upper portions of the pocketsare expansible and the lower portions are preferably held distended soas to avoid crowdingef the disks toward each other. These'spa'cing ordistending devices .are preferably so arranged as to support the edgesof guide cards for locating and identifying the various records.

Figure 1, is a vertical transverse section of a filing device embodyingthe improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2, is alongitudinal section of the same showing one of the recordspartly Withdrawn.

Fig '3, is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4, is a longitudinal sectional View of the same.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each pocket is formed of canvas orsome other suitable fabric and provided with cross bars 10-'10 at theupper edges of the front and back flaps thereof. Each end of each crossbar is provided with a hook 11 which fits over the guide 12 and extendsinto a groove 13 in the side 14 of the container. It will thus be seenthat the pockets can he slid from front to rear of the container and canbe opened out or collapsed at will.

The disks such as 15 are stood on edge in suitable means so as to limitthe pockets and preferably rest upon pads 16 of felt or other suitablematerial. Preferably each disk is provided with a guide or index card 17so that the disks can be readily located. Each disk will bear an indexnumber corresponding to the number on the tab of the guide card and anindex sheet may be provided where the names of the pieces on the disksare alphabetically arranged and where the numbers of the disks willappear.

I preferably provide members 18 at or near the lower ends of the pocketsfor holding the flaps apart so as to prevent the weight of the disksbeing concentrated at the center and consequently crowding the diskstogether. These spacers also afford supports for the guide cards whichwould have a tendency to curl up and be crowded together against thefabric of the pocket. These spacers may be held in position in anysuitable manner and may be made removable if desired so as to permitcollapsing or shut ting up the pockets into more compact form.

In the fornr in Figs. 3 and l the pockets are provided with rollers 20resting on tracks 21. These rollers may conveniently be carried by thespacers 18. The side walls of the pocket are hinged along the upperedges of the spacers and are more or less rigid and selfsupporting. Theupper edges may carry pins or rollers 23 adapted to rest on the ledges24 of the container when the pockets are opened out as shownat the rightof Fig. 4. The sides of each pocket may be connected by cords or chains25 or other the opening movement. It will be noted, in this form ofconstruction, that the main support of each pocket is at the bottom andthat the upper edges are ordinarily prevented from opening outwardly bythe contact between the rollers 23 and the ledges 24. In these figuresthe guide card is indicated at 26 and the number of the disk as 27,which is also the index number on the guide card.

Instead of the rollers 20, other anti-friction devices such as domes ofsilence may be employed supported by suitable grooves on tracks in thebottom of the container.

According to my invention it is only necessary to handle the particularrecord that is desired and when a record is removed the pocket remainsopen for it until it is returned.

As each pocket is selfsupporting in the container no follower isrequired and consequently the full capacity'of the container may beutilized. By this method of filing the records are kept in an orderlyand systematic manner without danger of breakage and when covered in adrawer or cabinet are fully protected from dirt and dust. Theconstruction is such that there is no danger of chipping or cracking therecords as they are manipulated in the pockets. The records are readilyaccessible for selection and may be readily replaced when desired.

What I claim is 1. A record file'comprising a container, a plurality ofpockets independently supported at their upper and lower parts in thecontainer, each including front and back flaps with means forpermanently spacing apart the lower edges of said flaps, said meansconstituting the pocket bottom.

2. A record file comprising a container, a plurality of pocketsindependently supported at their upper and lower parts in the container,each including front and back flaps with means for permanently spacingapart the lower edges of said flaps, said means constituting the pocketbottom, the pocket support including an anti-friction means to permitthe pockets to be moved to and fro freely in said container.

3. A record file comprising a container, a plurality of pocketsindependently supported at their upper and lower parts in the container,each including front and back flaps with means for permanently spacingapart the lower edges of said flaps, said means constituting the pocketbottom and means for limiting the spreading apart of the upper parts ofthe front and rear flaps.

4. A record file comprising a container, a plurality of pocketsindependently supported at their u per and lower parts in the container,sai pockets being substantially fiat bottomed, the front and back flapsof said pockets being movable toward and from each other, anti-frictiondevices arranged between each pocket and the support for the latter,whereby said pockets may be moved bodily in said container and wherebythe flaps of each pocket may be moved toward and from each other withfreedom,

5. In a record file, a container, a pocket mounted on the bottom thereofto slide to and fro therein, said pocket includin movable front and backflaps with means or normally holding said flaps spaced apart at theirlower edges, a slidin connection between the upper parts of said flapsand said container whereby the upper part of said pocket may be openedmore or less at will.

6. Ina record file comprising a container, a plurality of pocketstherein, each pocket having a yielding bottom and means for spacing thesides of each pocket apart near the bottom.

7. In a record file, a container, a pocket mounted on the bottom thereofto slide to and fro therein, said pocket including movable front andback flaps with means for normally holding said flaps spaced apart attheir lower edges, a sliding connection between the upper parts of bothof said flaps and said container, whereby the upper part of said pocketmay be opened more or less at will, and means for limiting the openingmovement of said front and back flaps of the pocket. v

8. A record file comprising a container, a plurality of pockets mountedin said container, means for supporting the bottoms of said pockets topermit the pockets to be moved back and forth in said container andmeans for preventing the spreading of the upper edges of each pocket.

9. A record file comprising a container, a plurality of pockets mountedin said container each pocket comprising a movable front and back flap,means for permanently spacing the lower edges of said flaps, means forsupporting said pockets at their upper ends on said container said meansbeing constructed to permit said pockets to he slid bodily in saidcontainer and to permit the upper edges of said flaps to be moved to andfro independently of any bodily sliding movement of the pocketsthemselves.

FRANK P. READ.

